Neoregelia plant named ‘Dharma’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Neoregelia  plant named ‘Dharma’, characterized by its broad and outwardly arching growth habit; relatively broad leaves that are arching and recurved in aspect; leaves that are dark green in color with distinct light yellow green-colored stripes and margins and red purple-colored apices; upper leaves are red purple in color; flower development is not required for red purple color development; and good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Neoregelia carolinae X (Neoregelia macrosepala X Neoregelia meyendorfii).

Cultivar denomination: ‘DHARMA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Neoregelia plant, botanically known as Neoregelia carolinae X (Neoregelia macrosepala X Neoregelia meyendorfii), and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dharma’.

The new Neoregelia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Princeton, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Neoregelia plants with uniquely colored leaves.

The new Neoregelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2010 in Princeton, Fla. of an unnamed proprietary selection of Neoregelia carolinae, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietary selection of Neoregelia macrosepala X Neoregelia meyendorfii, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Neoregelia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Princeton, Fla. in 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Neoregelia plant by offsets in a controlled environment in Princeton, Fla. since 2011, has shown that the unique features of this new Neoregelia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Neoregelia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dharma’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dharma’ as a new and distinct Neoregelia plant:

-   -   1. Broad and outwardly arching growth habit.     -   2. Relatively broad leaves that are arching and recurved in         aspect.     -   3. Leaves that are dark green in color with distinct light         yellow green-colored stripes and margins and red purple-colored         apices; upper leaves are red purple in color; flower development         is not required for red purple color development.     -   4. Good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia are broader than         leaves of plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia develop red purple         coloration without flower development whereas flowering is         required for red purple coloration to develop on leaves of         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Neoregelia and the female parent selection         differ in leaf color as plants of the new Neoregelia are dark         green in color with distinct light yellow green-colored stripes         and margins and red purple-colored apices whereas leaves of         plants of the female parent selection are green and beige to         cream-colored variegated.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia are broader than         leaves of plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia develop red purple         coloration without flower development whereas flowering is         required for red purple coloration to develop on leaves of         plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Neoregelia and the male parent selection         differ in leaf color as plants of the new Neoregelia are dark         green in color with distinct light yellow green-colored stripes         and margins and red purple-colored apices whereas leaves of         plants of the male parent selection are solid green in color.

Plants of the new Neoregelia can be compared to plants of the Neoregelia carolinae X Neoregelia princeps ‘Autumn Rain’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,600. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Neoregelia and ‘Autumn Rain’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Neoregelia are larger than plants of         ‘Autumn Rain’.     -   2. Plants of the new Neoregelia grow faster than plants of         ‘Autumn Rain’.     -   3. Plants of the new Neoregelia and ‘Autumn Rain’ differ in leaf         color as plants of the new Neoregelia are dark green in color         with distinct light yellow green-colored stripes and margins and         red purple-colored apices whereas leaves of plants of ‘Autumn         Rain’ are green and white bi-colored becoming solid pink purple         with development.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Neoregelia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Neoregelia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dharma’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dharma’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe flowering plants grown during the spring in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered greenhouse in Princeton, Fla. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Neoregelia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C. and light levels about 2,500 foot-candles. Plants were twelve months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Neoregelia carolinae X (Neoregelia     macrosepala X Neoregelia meyendorfii) ‘Dharma’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Neoregelia carolinae, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Neoregelia macrosepala X Neoregelia meyendorfii, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By offsets.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 to 45 days at             ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 45 to 60 days at             ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             months at ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             months at ambient temperatures about 18° C. to 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically brown to beige in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broad and outwardly arching growth             habit; leaves in rosettes; plants readily produce uniform             offsets; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 15 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 47.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 mm.         -   Stem diameter at the soil level.—About 3 cm.         -   Stem texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Stem color.—Close to NN155A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette, spiral phyllotaxis; simple; sessile,             clasping.         -   Shape.—Narrowly oblong with broad sheathing base.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate to short aristate.         -   Base.—Truncate, clasping.         -   Margin.—Serrate, spinose.         -   Length.—About 23 cm.         -   Width, mid-section.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Width, towards the base.—About 7.25 cm.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; leathery; narrowly and longitudinally ribbed;             glossy, shiny.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Lower leaves, upper surface: Centers, close to 147A             and NN137A; towards the base, fading to close to 160C to             160D; longitudinal stripes and margins, close to 144A, 8C,             8D and 157A; towards the apex, close to 53A; venation,             similar to lamina colors. Lower leaves, lower surface:             Centers, close to 146A; towards the base, fading to close to             160C to 160D; longitudinal stripes and margins, close to             157A, 8C and 8D tinged with close to 144A; venation, similar             to lamina colors. Upper leaves, upper surface: Close to 53A;             venation, close to 53A; flowering is not required for red             purple coloration to develop on upper leaves and lower leaf             apices. Upper leaves, lower surface: Close to 53A and 53B;             venation, close to 53A and 53B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence form.—Terminal flat-topped compact corymb             located inside the leaf rosette; about 104 flowers develop             per inflorescence.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 60 to 80 days             weeks after planting; plants flower naturally during the             spring in Florida.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two to three             days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 3 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Flower size.—Length: About 2.75 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl. Shape,             free part: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acuminate. Base:             Truncate, fused at the base. Margin: Entire. Length: About             3 cm. Width at base of free part: About 3 mm. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper (inner)             surface: Close to 93C; towards the base, close to NN155D.             When opening and fully opened, lower (outer) surface: Close             to 93D; towards the base, close to NN155D.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: One. Shape: Narrowly and             elongated deltoid. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 6 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Membranous and             translucent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145D.         -   Sepals.—Not observed on plants of the new Neoregelia.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Typically erect. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to NN155D.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Depending on position in the             inflorescence, typically erect to outward and curving             upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 155A.         -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Six. Filament length: About             1.1 cm; partially adnate to the petals. Filament color:             Close to NN155D. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length:             About 2.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 158C. Pollen amount:             None observed.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             1.5 cm. Stigma shape: Elongated oblong. Stigma color: Close             to 157C. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close to             NN155D. Ovary color: Close to 155A to 155B.         -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed production have             not been observed on plants of the new Neoregelia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 2° C. to about     37° C. -   Interior & garden performance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have     been observed to have good postproduction longevity under interior     conditions, to have good garden performance and to tolerate     temperatures ranging from 2° C. to 37° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, resistance to pathogens and     pests common to Neoregelia plants has not been observed. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Neoregelia plant named ‘Dharma’ as illustrated and described. 